Editor: Don’t get me wrong, you won’t find too many players that play harder than Lenzelle Smith
Jr. But I don’t want him to take the last two shots at the end of the Penn State game. Coming out
of the timeout with 10 seconds left, the play sure looked designed to go to Smith.

I am not blaming that loss solely on him. One could point to lousy free-throw shooting and poor
rebounding. But LaQuinton Ross was clearly the best offensive option at the end, and there was no
attempt to get him the ball. Awful.

— Steve Harper, Findlay

Steve: I tend to agree that Ross deserved a touch on at least one of those final two trips (the
first of which, I’d add, had a panicked, rushed feel to it). That said, both of Smith’s attempts
were mostly open looks.

Editor: I would like to know why Ohio State and the NCAA allow the obvious lopsided officiating
that seems to occur so often in Big Ten games. Prime example was the OSU-Penn State game, in which
the officiating was so obviously tilted to make Penn State have a chance. It makes a viewer want to
vomit while watching.

Even Penn State fans (honest ones) have to agree it was one-sided. And then the ESPN staff has
the courage to call this just another Big Ten game. Yeah, of course.

The conference is too good to let these “paid” idiots continue this trend.

— Tim Seals, Columbus

Tim: Big Ten officiating has been a point of irritation for as long as I can remember — and
that’s going back before the days of Rick Yudt. I actually thought it had gotten better in recent
years, but I also heard reports that Thursday’s effort was mangled on many counts. Mostly I watched
hockey, not that it was more satisfying.

Editor: Puppet master — Thad Matta.

Master is defined as a male teacher; an artist; a revered leader. I don’t want this to
downgrade our players but rather to give praise and to pay honor and respect to the best basketball
coach Ohio State has ever had.

From the recruiting of great talent, developing the players’ skills, showing them concepts that
work and the discipline to perform as a team — it has to be a gift rarely seen in today’s
sports.

— Cloyd Yough, Mount Vernon

Cloyd: When these Buckeyes have it working — such as in the second half against Minnesota,
which I’ll assume prompted this early-week letter — they are an overachieving bunch to behold. But
when the wheels come off, it’s best to shield your eyes.

Mr. Stein: What sort of sports universe are we living in if Penn State can beat Ohio State twice
in the same year in (men’s) basketball?

I thought that when the Buckeyes lost at home to Penn State in January, it was proof positive
that this OSU team didn’t have what it takes to be the solid NCAA Tournament team they had been in
the past few years.

Then they started playing great again and won a few games, and I started to think this was a
team that could make some noise (if they hit some shots) because of the way they play defense. But
now this: Penn State! What is going on here?

— T.R. Phillips, Columbus

T.R.: You’re suggesting that the planets may be whacked to such a degree that OSU starts the
Big Ten football season 0-2 by losing to Maryland and Rutgers? Not sure about that. But regarding
these basketball Buckeyes, I wouldn’t count them being around the NCAAs past the first
weekend.